The Duke of Sussex is inclined to ‘take risks’ when it comes to potentially controversial claims in his highly anticipated book that could turn into a legal nightmare, he says. The memoir-writing expert argued. Rutger Bruining, founder and CEO of international biography writing service StoryTerrace, explained that there are always “trade-offs” when writing a memoir, and Prince Harry said he wanted to be published. We believe we were able to make a decision to protect him with the assistance of our Penguin Random House legal team. It makes the book less interesting.
Asked if Duke could run into legal trouble for posting memories on his page that could implicate other people, Bruning told Express.co.uk: Told. We have a very large legal department that makes so many decisions about risk that we may change the wording, name it or not.
“So there are many ways to get around it, but there are still sometimes trade-offs, and the trade-offs that such a big book can take to make it better. But yes, he’s in good hands.”
He added: “It’s hard to write an interesting book when you’ve removed everything that might upset someone a little bit.
“And obviously not everything written negatively about someone is subject to litigation, so there can be a trade-off in that sense.”
Penguin Random House shared details in October of Harry’s memoir, which was first published in July 2021.
Along with the title and release date of the 416-page book, the publisher also provided a brief synopsis, saying it described Harry’s life with “raw, unflinching honesty.”
Penguin Random House suggested that a major part of the memoir would be sadness. That’s because, as part of the promotion’s launch, he recalled an image of the Duke of Sussex and his brother Prince William walking behind the coffin of his mother, Princess Diana. Funeral in 1997.
The description reads, “One of the most powerful images of the 20th century. Two boys and two princes walking behind their mother’s coffin as the world watches in grief and horror.
READ MORE: Kate and William’s tour hit double trouble after Sussex teaser
“When Princess Diana of Wales was buried, billions of people wondered what the princes must be thinking and feeling, and how their lives would unfold from that point on. For Harry, this is finally the story.”
Bruning believes Harry made a “very conscious choice” when he decided to write the memoir.
He said: “[The fact Harry is writing a book] This isn’t unique as other prominent members of the royal family have done this before, but it’s still a big step and he hasn’t been able to tell his whole story the way he wants it to. It shows that you feel
Of course, he’s done some big interviews that we all know, but I think books can explain things in more detail and with more nuance, so that was a very conscious choice. There is no doubt.
Do not miss it
As experts have noted, other royals before Harry put pen to paper to speak candidly about their lives and experiences.
In the 1950s, King Edward VIII of Windsor shocked the royal family with The King’s Story.
A few years later, the Duchess of Windsor, whom the Duke abdicated in December 1936, also published a memoir entitled Hearts for Reason.
Sarah Ferguson has released two memoirs, the first in 1996 and the second in 2012 after her divorce from Prince Andrew.
Most recently, the late Queen’s cousin, the Duke of Kent, also revealed his life story in a biography, A Royal Life, co-authored with historian Hugo Vickers.
